Broncos OL legend Mark Schlereth sends impassioned defense of ex-Oregon and Auburn football star Bo Nix
Three-time Super Bowl champion and two-time ex-Denver Broncos OL Mark Schlereth sent an impassioned defense of former Oregon and Auburn football QB Bo Nix, the Broncos new franchise signal-caller -- specifically one of his oft-criticized perceived flaws, his arm strength, during an appearance on theSchlereth & Evans Show with Mike Evans (not the WR).
"When you watch him, he is on time and on target," Schlereth said of Nix (h/t Mile High Huddle). "And I've said this before, you cannot be on target if you're not on time. If you're not on time with the football, you won't be on target. And he reads defenses, and he throws it to a spot where his guys can catch it underneath or (in the intermediate) and turn and run. Like that's what you want. So, yeah, there are a lot of traits that I understand why, and I thought he had the best, the quickest release, and he was the most accurate underneath, which is where the game in the NFL is played these days."
When it comes to success under center in the NFL, oftentimes weaknesses can be hid in the right scheme. Let's not forget that a late-career Peyton Manning, who lost most of his arm strength after several neck surgeries, won a Super Bowl ring in Denver.
Luckily, there's plenty of hope for Nix in Sean Payton's offense.
NFL exec: Former Oregon and Auburn football star Bo Nix 'going to be legit' in Broncos offense
One NFL executive went on record while speaking to The Athletic's Mike Sando to say the he foresees Nix being "legit" in the Broncos' offense in a way Russell Wilson couldn't be during his disastrous two-year Mile High tenure.
"I'm betting on it [succeeding] heavily," the executive said (h/t Bleacher Report). "Bo has experience, he has enough arm talent and I think he is going to do what he is coached to do. Sean Payton's system is optimal for him. Bo is not going to go off-script as much as Russ was going to do. Look, I don't want him to be successful, but I think he is going to be legit there."
It's one thing for Schlereth to be high on his former team's top draft pick, one meant to change the direction of a franchise that has not seen success since Super Bowl 50 in 2016, while speaking on a Denver radio station.
It's another entirely for an opposing NFL executive to have such faith. Perhaps the exec was setting the standard high for Nix so that he wouldn't meet the lofty expectations.
But more than likely, there's genuine belief in Bo as he takes the reins of the Broncos this Fall.